Specim en Handl ing

and Pr ocessi ng

Dr. Kauser Jabeen

MBBS, FCPS
Senior Instructor
Department of Pathology/Microbiology
DIAGNOSTIC CYCLE
 The Patient
P P
Test Selection o
r Report
e s
Interpretation t
A Collection The
n A
Laboratory n
a Cycle Report
l a
Transport Transmission
y l
Bartlett ‘80
t y
I Report t
c Accession Creation I
c
Analysis
 The chi ef functi on of cl ini cal
mi crobiol ogy lab is to exami ne
and cu lture speci men f or
microorgani sms, to make
accurate specie s
identi fication of imp or tant
isol ates an d to perform
antibi oti c su scept ibi lity tests
when in dicated
 Patie nt
|
De termi ne di agnost ic
di ffer en tial
|
Sele ct and col lect most
appr op riate speci mens f or
the inf ectious agents
suspe cted
|
Serol ogy Di rect detect ion Cul ture
DIR ECT DET ECTI ON
Special stains Gram,acid-fast, negative

Antigen detection Cryptococcal antigen

Toxin detection Clostridium difficile toxin

Molecular assays probes and PCR

 SERO LOGY

Presence of IgM

Diagnostic titer

Fourfold increase in titer

 CUL TURE
Identification by bio-chemical
reactions
Identification with specific anti-sera
Identification using molecular based
methods
Anti-microbial susceptibility testing
 Wh en ma ny
po or q ualit y
spec imens are sent,
the labor atory
produces many
us el ess results!
Spe cimen selec tion ,
coll ection an d
processing
 Se le ctio n of g ood
quality sp ecime n fo r
test in g d epends on
multip le facto rs
Optimal time of collection
Known characteristics of certain
infectious processes or infectious
agents
Appropriate test must be directed
accordingly
 General Criteria for
Specimen Collection and
Transport (Most important)
Sa mple sh ould b e
colle cted prior to
antib iotic t herapy
Ea rly m orning
sp ecimen
Myc obacteriu m
 Co rr ect t yp e o f
specime ns
Pu s/A spirated in st ead o f
swa bs
 Ad equate q uantit y of
ste ril e body flu id
CSF , p le ural
flu id , blo od
Ap propria te n umber
of sp ecim ens to
incre ase th e yie ld
Pus aspirate
Sputum
Sputum
Sputum
Blood collection
Urine collection
Proper containers
Incorrect transportation
Proper labeling
Sa fe h andlin g or
sa fety at wo rk
Safe handl ing or
safety at work
Safe handl ing or
safety at work
Personal protective
equipment
Safety hood
Reject if
Processing
Staining
Staining
Staining
Staining
 Urgent results
CSF
Blood
AFB smear
MP
Selection of media
Selection of media
Selection of media
Sterile condition
Streaking
Temperature and
atmosphere
Direct sensitivity
 Consu lta tion
In and Outs ide Campus
Interpretation of results
Investigation
Input on management of patients
with infectious problems
Guide and monitor the course of
anti-microbial therapy
 Qu alit y Assu rance
Quality control Internal and External
Audit
Certification or accreditation
ISO 9002
JCIA
Thank you